Level for pinball machines



Dec. 9, 1952 F F, MASSEY 2,620,572

LEVEL FOR PINBALL MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1950 Fig.

I l I 57 IN VEN TOR.

B; WW 3m Patented Dec. 9, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,620,572 LEVEL Fort PINBALL MACHINES Fred E. Massey, Greenville, Ky. Application January 12, 195p, Serial No. 138,147

1 Claim. (01. 33-214) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in levelling devices and more particularly to a levelling device for pin ball machines.

The primary object of thepresent invention is to provide a levelling attachment for pin ball machines which will be applied to a pin ball machine at the factory or shop, adjusted and locked in position so that the proper incline of the playing field will be assured for inclined plane, and adjustment for different locations as to floor level can be made by simply adjusting the screw-type casters on the legs of the machine to adjust the machine with respect to the factory adjustment of the level.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a levelling attachment for pin ball machines that will indicate at all times whether or not the playing field of a pin ball machine is in proper position for playing, thereby eliminating costly and time-consuming adjustments by the trial-and-error method commonly used.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a levelling attachment for pin ball machines that is quickly and readily applied to pin ball machines and which is conveniently adjusted in a minimum of time.

A still further aim of the present invention is to provide a pin ball machine leveller that is simple and practical in construction, strong and reliable in use, small and compact in structure, neat and attractive in appearance, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and install, and otherwise well adapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevational View of a pin ball machine and with parts broken away to show the present levelling attachment applied thereto;

Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the present invention applied to the playing field on a pin ball machine;

Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially on the plane of section line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein, for the purpose of illustration, there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the numeral l represents an elongated base member having a-first pair of upstanding ears "I2 at one end and a second pair of upstanding ears M at its other end.

One end portion Hi of a'body member I8 is received between the ears l2 and includes a transverse opening 26 that receives a pivot pin 22 extending between and through the ears I2 for vertical swinging movement of the body member relative to the base 10.

The remaining end portion 24 of the body member I8 is bifurcated and receives a bolt 26 having an eye portion 28 that is received between the ears I4. A second pivot pin 30 extends through the ears l4 and the eye portion 24 to permit vertical swinging movement of the bolt 26 relative to the base member ID.

Upper and lower nuts 32 and 34 are threaded 0n the bolt 26 and clamp the bifurcated portion 24 of the body member I8 therebetween to maintain the body member at a predetermined angle with the base.

The forward end portion it of the body member I8 is provided with an enlarged upstanding portion 36 that joins a laterally projecting central or cross-portion 38. The portion 36 is formed with a recess 40 in which there is mounted a well-known level tube 42 that is disposed longitudinally of the body member IS. The crossportion 38 is formed with a blind bore 42 and an opening 44 intersecting the bore 42. Another evel tube 46 is received in the bore 42 and is held in the bore 42 by a closure plug 48 frictionally fitted in the bore to retain the tube 46 in registry with the opening 44. The tube 4'6 is disposed perpendicular to the tube 42 and transversely of the body member l8.

In practical use of the present invention, one or more of the levelling units are applied to the playing field 50 of a pin ball machine 52 by fasteners 54 that extend through the base 10 and into the playing surface 50. The levelling units are so located as to be visible through the transparent covering for the playing field.

At the factory or shop, the body member I8 is adjusted through adjustment of the lock nuts 32 and 34, thereby setting the level tubes at a predetermined slope for the playing field of the pin ball machine.

When the pin ball machine is set up for use, it is merely necessary to adjust the leg casters 56 until the air bubbles in the level tubes are centered in order to position the machine for proper use.

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

it is believed that a clear understanding of the device will be quite apparent to those skilled in this art. A more detailed description is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though there is herein shown and described a preferred embodiment of the invention, the same is susceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of the invention as herein described and within the scope of the appended claim.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new 152 For use with a pin ball machine having an upper transparent wall, a level adjusted and locked on the pin ball machine at the factory and positioned within the machine and below the upper transparent wall so that the level can be observed during placement of the pin ball machine on a floor surface without permitting access to the level, said level being completely enclosed in said machine and comprising an elongated base having a first pair of upstanding ears at one end and a second pair of upstanding ears at its other end, an elongated body member having first and second end portions, the first end Portion of said body member having a transverse opening therein, a pivot extending through the first pair of ears and through the opening in said body memher, a bolt pivoted between said second pair of 4 ears, said second end portion of said body member being bifurcated and receiving said bolt, level tubes supported on said body member, and upper and lower clamping nuts threaded on said bolt and holding the second end portion of said body member against sliding on the bolt.

FRED E. MASSEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 471,426 Hutton Mar. 22, 1892 625,019 Cardell May 16, 1899 741,801 Lemle Oct. 20, 1903 864,744 Powell Aug. 27, 1907 875,243 Cramer Dec. 31, 1907 1,114,480 Jensen Oct. 20, 1914 1,292,595 Foyer Jan. 28, 1919 1,339,639 Voight May 11, 1920 1,968,371 Butterwor-th July 31, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,637 Switzerland 1890 158,477 England Feb. 10, 1921 317,275 Germany 111,, 1918 

